Issues pass; cities, schools see shakeups in election
All five questions in the Barry County April 8 General Municipal Election passed, and residents will see numerous changes to city and school positions in the wake of a challenger-friendly exercise in Democracy.
Two questions were posed by the Barry County Commission, one to continue the 1/2-cent sales tax, for capital improvement to county roads and bridges, for another five years, and the second to exempt senior citizens 62-and-older from increases in property tax liability on their primary residences.
Both measures passed by wide margins. The sales tax received 76% support, with 1,930 votes din favor and 617 against; and the senior property tax exemption (Senate Bill 190) fared even better, with 91% in favor, 2,330 votes to 220.
“The half-cent was already there, just renewed, and we hoped that would pass because it supports road districts, and some of the smaller ones don’t get that much,” said Steve Blankenship, Barry County presiding commissioner. “[Regarding the SB190 vote], I was kind of surprised. I figured it would pass, but not by 91%. We didn’t think it was a good deal, and we talked to a lot of people about it. But, this is how the people voted, so we will take the steps to get it implemented as soon as possible.”
Blankenship said Collector Skyler Bowman’s office is not expected to get the required software to implement the tax until the end of the year.
“We are working on it,” Blankenship said. “It’s not what we wanted, but it’s what the people want, so we’ll do it.”
The city of Cassville’s 3% adult-use marijuana tax proposal was approved with 73% support, 172 votes in favor to 65 against. The tax, solely on adult-use (recreational) marijuana sales at the recently annexed Cassville Dispensary, was already being applied to the products but collected by the County. Per court order, the county and city cannot stack taxes, and the city’s tax takes precedence now that the business is within its limits.
The tax is expected to net about $150,000 annually, according to Dispensary estimates. The County had been applying the funds to the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, and Cassville intends to put revenues in the general fund for distribution to the Cassville Police Department and city infrastructure improvements.
“We appreciate the people understanding this tax was not an additional tax, and once funds come to the city in the fall, we will direct them to the 7th Street bridge project and som park projects after pool season,” said Richard Asbill, Cassville city administrator. “We won’t get much this year, and we will be able to budget the full amount for fiscal year 2026.”
Asbill said the tax will continue being collected by the County through November, transitioning to the city in October. Plans for 2026 also include additional funding for Cassville Police, Asbill said.
Blankenship said from the county’s perspective, there is disappointment in the loss of the funds, but hope they could be reinstated.
“We’re not real happy with that, but it is what it is,” he said. “The court case on stacking the taxes is before the Missouri Supreme Court, and our attorney said there should be a decision this summer.
“Losing it will hurt the Sheriff’s Office some, but they have a pretty decent budget already, and the money was used for extra things the Office needed. If the Supreme Court uphold the no stacking ruling, we’ll work around it and figure it out, supporting law enforcement all we can.”
Asbill said the city goal was not to take from the county, and he hopes to work with state elected officials to allow for both taxes.
“The city could have put it on the ballot when the county did originally, but there was a sentiment since the Dispensary was outside the city, we did not need to,” Asbill said. “If the city had already put it in place, this issue would not have mattered. It was responsible for us to exercise this tax issue and asset the city tax.
“We also want to support the county in visits with State Rep. Scott Cupps and State Sen. Mike Moon about fixing the law so both us and the county can mutually benefit.”
The Exeter School District received the OK from voters for its $2.5 million no-tax increase bond proposal for facilities improvements. The measure passed with 179 votes in favor (89%) to 23 against (11%).
“We were cautiously optimistic going into voting day, and we were overwhelmed with the support that the community expressed through their vote,” said Tim Jordan, Exeter superintendent. “Exeter has always been supportive of their school, and we appreciate their continued support as we look to grow and improve in all areas.
“The goal is to begin the construction process this summer. The desired completion of the project is currently set for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.”
Finally, in northern Barry County, the Barry-Lawrence County Ambulance District’s sales tax proposal passed by a slim margin, with 389 votes in favor (53.8%) to 334 against (46.2%). Barry County voted 257-212 for approval, and Lawrence County voted 132-122 for approval.
In city and school board elections, the biggest changes will take place in Wheaton, where all challengers found success.
In the race for mayor, Luke Stucky pulled in 38 votes (53%) to incumbent David Shockley’s 34 (47%). Shockley has served as mayor of Wheaton since 2014, and he was an alderman from 1999 until his mayoral election.
Also in Wheaton, Ryan Henderson defeated incumbent Casey Prewitt for East Ward alderman with 21 votes (54%) to Prewitt’s 18 (46%); and David Harris garnered 17 votes (55%) to defeat incumbent Jon Brattin’s 14 (45%).
Longtime Washburn Mayor John Tiedeman was also ousted, with challenger Kristy Brinkman garnering 47 votes (80%), to Tiedeman’s 12 (20%). Tiedeman had served as mayor of the city for 16 years, first elected in 2009.
Also in Washburn, challenger Brandi Hayworth and incumbent Jeremy Johnston won the open alderman-at-large seats with 41 (46%) and 36 (40%) votes, besting incumbent Mary Roller’s 12 votes (14%).
Exeter incumbents Rhonda Scott and Lindsay Reed each retained their two-year terms with no contest. In the race for the two one-year terms, incumbents Tara Justice and Teresa Alverson kept their seats with 48 votes (42%) and 37 votes (32%), respectively. A write-in campaign also saw Karrie Lewis receive 30 votes (26%) in the race.
Due to a term length misunderstanding, the mayoral race for a two-year term did not have any candidates who officially filed, but incumbent Jeff Scott retained the role via 25 write-in votes (81%) to David Smith’s 6 write-ins (19%).
Southwest School Board will see a change, with challengers John Mulkey receiving 278 votes (39%) and Scotty Flippo getting 245 votes (35%), defeating incumbent Amber Paulsen, who received 185 votes (26%). Bobby Brooks, the other incumbent, chose not to seek another term.
In Purdy, Ken Terry, who has served on the board previously but not the most recent term, and incumbent Mason Roller won positions, receiving 196 (37%) and 177 (34%) votes, respectively. Challenger David Wormington received 155 votes (29%). Inucmbent Todd Schallert chose not to run for re-election.
Road district levy retention questions passed in Exeter and Capps Creek, and a White River Special Road District levy hike proposal failed, 80 votes to 60, or 57.14% to 43%.
For full unofficial results from the election, visit: https://tinyurl.com/4d8rcz3k.
